Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has publicly declared his intention to limit Elon Musk's access to the White House, escalating a heated exchange over the H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers. Bannon, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, stated he would ensure Musk, whom Trump has appointed to a government efficiency role, "will not have full access" and "will be like any other person." Bannon went on to call Musk "a truly evil guy" and vowed to "take this guy down."
The core of the disagreement stems from Musk's support of H-1B visas, which Bannon claims are manipulated by "tech overlords" to the detriment of American workers. The tech industry, including software engineers, views these visas as essential for filling specialized roles. This has long been a contentious issue, with some conservatives arguing that companies exploit the program to acquire cheaper labor, displacing American employees.
Musk, a South African native and former H-1B visa holder himself, has defended the program, citing a persistent scarcity of qualified engineers in Silicon Valley. His online defense of the program led him to criticize Republicans opposed to H-1B visas as "hateful, unrepentant racists," advocating for a merit-based system. Bannon responded by suggesting Musk should "go back" to South Africa and questioned why South Africans, whom he described as "the most racist people on earth," should comment on U.S. affairs.
Despite the controversy, Trump appears to align with Musk on this issue. In a recent New York Post interview, Trump reiterated his support for the H-1B program, stating he has utilized it himself numerous times and considers it beneficial. This stance contrasts with Trump's previous criticism of the program as "very bad" and "unfair," where he even introduced a "Hire American" initiative aimed at prioritizing highly skilled and paid applicants.
Bannon, recently released from prison after serving a sentence for contempt of Congress related to the January 6th investigation, accused Musk of prioritizing wealth and power accumulation above all else. The extent of Musk's influence on the upcoming Trump administration remains to be seen.
